http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=221x69917
Tyler Durden (1000+ posts) Tue Apr-01-08 02:01 PM
Original message
Does this guy have ANY non-homophobic Religious Supporters???
http://gaywired.com/article.cfm?section=163&id=18614
Barack Obama’s Latest Pastor Problem: Anti-Gay Rev. James T. Meeks
Article Date: 03/31/2008
By Duane Wells
Just as the dust surrounding Sen. Barack Obama’s long-term association with controversial minister Rev. Jeremiah Wright has begun to settle comes new reports of the democratic presidential hopeful’s connection to another racially divisive public figure—the stridently homophobic Rev. James T. Meeks, an Illinois state senator who also serves as the pastor of Chicago’s 22,000 member strong Salem Baptist Church.
Described in a 2004 Chicago Sun Times article as someone Barack Obama regularly seeks out for “spiritual counselâ€, James Meeks, who will serve as an Obama delegate at the 2008 Democratic convention in Denver, is a long-time political ally to the democratic frontrunner.
(snip)
A spring 2007 newsletter from the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) named Meeks one of the "10 leading black religious voices in the anti-gay movement". The newsletter cites him as both “a key member of Chicago's ‘Gatekeepers’ network, an interracial group of evangelical ministers who strive to erase the division between church and state†and “a stalwart anti-gay activist… … has used his House of Hope mega-church to launch petition drives for the Illinois Family Institute (IFI), a major state-level ‘family values’ pressure group that lauded him last year for leading African Americans in ‘clearly understanding the threat of gay marriage.'â€
(snip)
On a more personal level, Meeks has reportedly blamed "Hollywood Jews for bringing us Brokeback Mountain" and actively campaigned to defeat SB3186, an Illinois LGBT non-discrimination bill, while serving in the Illinois state legislature alongside Obama. According to a 2006 Chicago Sun Times article, his church sponsored a "Halloween fright night" which "consigned to the flames of hell two mincing young men wearing body glitter who were supposed to be homosexuals."
(snip)
I mean, COME ON, PEOPLE. This Candidate is looking more and more like a closet homophobe than anything else. Either he IS NOT a bigot and repudiates these people...ALL OF THEM...or he IS a bigot and holds their views.
Does anyone else see a third way on this?
“At the narrow passage there is no brother, no friend†Bedouin Proverb// “The world shall not be this way within the reach of my arm.†From Hannibal by Thomas A. Harris// â€The rich have a very long and strong arm.†Edward Rhodes, a very smart man and my friend
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DU9598 (1000+ posts) Tue Apr-01-08 02:12 PM
Response to Original message
3. Pretty serious charge
I am gay, but one of my best friends is a devout christian who continually spouts off about the sanctity of marriage. I love her and we have been long time friends. I tolerate her religious beliefs and I challenge her. She tolerates my sexuality and challenges me. But, we have so many beliefs and friends and joys in life in common that I cannot toss her aside because she is wrong in her belief on gay rights.
Am I too, as a gay man, a closet homophobe?
"The President has a lot of credibility when he pleads ignorance." Howard Fineman MSNBC "Countdown" with Keith Olbermann Feb.22, 2006
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And that is the difference between a gay man and a faggott.
And now for the money shot.......
blm (1000+ posts) Tue Apr-01-08 02:17 PM
Response to Original message
4. Has it occurred to any of you that this 'problem' is the result of nearly 2 decades of
intense targeting of black churches by GOP and RW propagandists with NO REBUTTAL or attempts at countering the propaganda by a Democratic party too intent on currying favor with big business and the center right voters?
Imagine the progress if we had a Dem party who was led the last 15 years by leaders who sought to counter the progress of the RW propagandists instead of giving in to them on the issue whenever it would come up - like Don't Ask Don't Tell and DOMA.
Imagine if we had a Dem party led the last 15 years by someone more willing to EDUCATE instead of rolling over to the propagandists.
What we have now is what the GOP propagandists built while Clinton and his leadership of the Dem party since 1993 helped them by looking the other way or rolling over - whichever move would assure no political capital of Clinton's was spent.
"Somebody posts factually inaccurate information? The answer is simple: Post a response and set the record straight." Skinner, 5-8-2007
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:mental: :mental: :mental: :mental: :mental: :mental: :mental: :mental: :mental: :mental: :mental: :mental: